Mission Disneyland

April 4, 2013 1500 hours

Anaheim, California

                We were stationed at the Super 8 hotel on the Southeast side of California Adventure, and at 1533 (3:33 PM) we deployed Mission Disneyland.  At 1611 (4:11 PM) we walked excitedly through the Disneyland gates.  Our first stop was in Tomorrowland, the new Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage.  Our wait in line was somewhat of a nightmare because Samuel didn't know what was coming, so he kept trying to run out of the line.  After 30 minutes of waiting we boarded our submarine, the Mariner, we were the first to board and the kids thought it was awesome.  Awesome, that is, til we started “diving”, then Samuel started to freak, he wanted out of there!  Unfortunately, our sub was having technical difficulties and so we weren't hearing any of the awesome narration to go with the ride, and Samuel was shaking because it was scary, but we still managed to have a good time.

                Our second ride was in Mickey’s Toontown, the Gadget’s Go Coaster, so it was a little bit of a trek to get there.  The minimum height was 35”, so Lily and I sat down next to the fountain and splashed in the water for 45 minutes while we waited.  While Samuel and Daddy were standing in line waiting to board, Samuel told AJ, “I NEED to ride it!”  They were in the very last seat on the roller coaster.  Afterward AJ told me, Samuel was super nervous and unsure at first, but after he told him it was just like a buggy (translation: quad, four wheeler, ATV), Samuel laughed and LOVED it.  He even wanted to do it again.

                I was bound and determined we were going to ride the tea cups while we were there, so I steered our troops toward Fantasyland and the Mad Tea Party.  Thankfully, there was only a 20 minute wait and the line moved quickly.  The only thing that was difficult about standing in the line was Samuel trying to cut in front of everyone else; at first he wanted out of the line and now he wanted to the front of the line!  Anyway, during our wait, before we were going to board the ride, I let Samuel pick which tea cup we would ride in.  He choose the solid orange tea cup, so when they opened the gait, we dashed for the orange cup!  Samuel and Lily both loved, loved, loved the tea cups.  It was truly adorable!

                After the tea cups we weren't sure where to go, so we were just kind of going with the flow of traffic.  And traffic took us past the Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride.  AJ and I saw the wait was only 30 minutes long and thought about stopping but traffic was pushing us ahead, so we were just going to forget about riding the Dumbo ride.  But then Samuel exploded with excitement, “I want to ride the elephant!!  Can Samuel ride the elephant?”  ADORABLE!!  He asked so nice and was so thrilled we couldn't refuse him, so we went back.  The wait was a little longer than advertised but it gave us time to eat our dinner, which was peanut butter and honey sandwiches.  When our turn came Samuel wanted to ride an orange Dumbo, apparently he has a thing for orange, but we were too slow so we got a yellow one instead.  Daddy and Lily rode the pink Dumbo right in front of us!  Samuel flew Dumbo up and down and up and down- he had a great time!

                New Orleans Square was our next stop so we could ride Pirates of the Caribbean (20 minute wait) and the Haunted Mansion. We were lucky to catch the Pirates of the Caribbean ride while it had a short line, so we didn't have to do much standing, thankfully. We sat in the very front of the boat on the Pirates ride.  Samuel was shaking again because it was dark, like on the Nemo submarine, but I held his hand and he didn't cry.  He was being brave.  Since AJ and I have been to Disneyland they added some Johnny-Depp-Jack-Sparrows to the Pirates ride- it was so great!  After Pirates we ran over to The Haunted Mansion, we only stood outside the house for about a minute before they brought us all in, it was fabulous!  My kind of line I tell you.  Samuel's concern started while we were in the “elevator” and during the rest of the ride, Samuel was on the edge of hysterics.  I had to say stuff like, “ Isn't that silly.  That is so goofy.” to keep him calm.  I understand his feelings though, I don’t really enjoy the Haunted Mansion myself.  The moment AJ set Lily in the stroller after the ride she fell fast asleep.

Haunted Mansion ride.  Our scary, "We forgot to take a picture faces."

                The traffic was crazy because of the Fansazmic show, so we couldn't get back over to Fantasyland, instead we went back over to Tomorrowland hoping to ride the new Star Tours but Samuel is not yet 40” tall.  Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters was right there so we rode it instead.  The wait was only supposed to be 20 minutes but it was more like 30 or 40!  With two sleepy kids that was almost a disaster.  If you remember, Samuel LOVES Toy Story, so you can imagine he was stoked about this ride!  We squoze all four of us into one ship, me holding the sleeping Lily and Samuel sitting on Daddy’s lap.  AJ and Samuel shot the evil Emperor Zurg while I drove the ship.  The ride was SO loud it woke Lily after about 5 seconds- I was so angry.  Samuel was thrilled with the ride but had a little difficulty figuring out the gun.  AJ was like a little boy on Christmas morning- I love my husband!  AJ made it to a Level 3 Planetary Pilot with 87,000-ish points, and Samuel made it to a Level 2 Space Ace with 6,600-ish points.  After Astro Blasters, we were all pooped, seven rides in five hours; we had a fantastic time!  At 2120 (9:20 PM) we started making our way out of the park and back to base.

Mission Disneyland was a success!!